Fertiliser

Calculations
Carol Rose, Extension Agronomist,
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Kempsey
DPI 496
August, 2004

The following simple calculations will allow you to

accurately determine how much fertiliser to put on
your soil.
Before applying fertilisers of any type, you should assess
the nutrient content of your soil, and understand that
other factors - soil type, soil depth, current pasture or
crop type and previous paddock history - need to be
considered as well.

Units
Often a recommendation talks about units of a nutrient
(eg phosphorus). A unit is the same as kilograms of that
nutrient (eg 1 unit P is 1 kg P). But this is not the same
as a kilogram of a fertiliser.

N:P:K:S
Fertilisers contain different amounts of nutrients, affecting
the amount of the fertiliser you need. The nutrients are
often written on the bag or packing slip as percentages,
or as N:P:K:S (nitrogen:phosphorus:potassium:sulfur).
Example:
Single superphosphate is 0:8.8:0:11. This means that
in 100 kg, there is 8.8 kg phosphorus, 11 kg sulfur.
There is no nitrogen or potassium.
Starter 15 is 14:12.7:0:11. This means that in 100 kg,
there is 14 kg nitrogen, 12.7 kg P, 11 kg sulfur and
no potassium.
Calculating the amount of fertiliser required
This information can be used to calculate the amount of
a fertiliser needed for a given amount of a nutrient:
Calculation A

Amount of fertiliser kg/ha = kg/ha nutrient

% nutrient in fertiliser x 100.
Example: You need 20 units (kg) /ha of phosphorus
(P) and you plan to use single superphosphate with
8.8% P.
Apply Calculation A

Amount of superphosphate required (kg/ha)

= 20 kg/ha P 8.8 P x 100
= 227 kg/ha

www.agric.nsw.gov.au

Calculating the amount of nutrient applied

You can reverse this calculation to work out how
much of a nutrient you are applying.
Calculation B

Amount of nutrient (kg/ha) = Amount of fertiliser

(kg/ha) x % nutrient in fertiliser 100
Example: You plan to apply 125kg/ha of single
superphosphate (approx 1 bag/acre).
Apply Calculation B

Amount of P applied (kg/ha)

= 125kg/ha x 8.8 P 100
= 11 kg/ha P
Calculating the cost per single nutrient
You should select fertilisers for the nutrients they
supply, what your soils lack and what your plants
require. If only one nutrient is deficient, compare
fertilisers on the cost of that nutrient. Use the following
calculation to compare the price of that nutrient.
Calculation C

Price per kg nutrient

= Price per tonne 10 % nutrient
Example 1: Paddock has high phosphorus (P) and
low sulfur (S) so need to apply sulfur.
Apply Calculation C

Single superphosphate @ $262/t

= $2.38 per kg sulfur
Gypsum @ $56/t 10 14.5%S
= $0.39 per kg sulfur
SF45 @ $335/t spread 10 42%
= $0.80 per kg sulfur
(but only 7.2% of sulfur is in a
form, the rest is released by soil
over several years)

10 11% S

S
readily available
micro-organisms

Note: Spreading cost can be added to price to compare

fertilisers with different spreading costs.
Example 2: Paddock has high nutrients except
nitrogen (N).
Apply Calculation C

Urea @ $410/t 10 46% N

= $0.89
DAP @ $580/t 10 18% N
= $3.22

Calculating the cost for more than one

nutrient
You can use a range of fertilisers, including blends,
to apply the same amount of nutrients. For the
fertilisers you are considering, work out the rate you
would have to apply to get the nutrients required
(calculation A), then use calculation D to work out
the cost per hectare. When a fertiliser has two or
more of the desired nutrients, use the nutrient in
least supply in the fertiliser for the calculation for
rate.
Calculation D

Cost per ha = cost/tonne x rate kg/ha (from A)

1000
Example: In the paddock you need 20 kg/ha N
and 20 kg/ha P.
Option 1: Urea (46:0:0:0) and single superphosphate
(0:8.8:0:11)
Apply Calculation A

Rate urea
= 20 units N 46%N x 100
= 43.5 kg/ha urea
Rate single superphosphate
= 20 units P 8.8 x 100
= 227kg/ha super
Apply Calculation D

Cost per ha Urea

= Urea @ $410/t x 43.5 kg/ha 1000
= $17.84
Cost per ha single superphosphate
= super @ $262/t x227 kg/ha 1000
= $59.47
TOTAL cost per ha = $77.31 /ha
Option 2: DAP (18:20:0:1.6)
Apply Calculation A

Rate DAP
= 20 units N18% x 100 (note: use
nutrient in least supply)
= 110 kg/ha DAP (will supply 22 units of P)
Apply Calculation D

Other Questions to Consider

Choosing the fertiliser to use should not just depend
on price. You should also consider:
Response to fertiliser: Do you need fertiliser? For
example, clover fixes its own nitrogen so does not
need N application; native pastures are adapted to
low phosphorus and may not respond to fertiliser
application.
Availability: Is the fertiliser you are considering
available in your area, or at the time of year you
want? Factor in freight costs.
Availability of nutrient: Consider if the nutrients in
the fertiliser are slow-release or rapidly available.
Handling: Can your machinery apply the necessary
rates? Can you handle small bags or 1 tonne bags?
Blends, while often more expensive, can be easier
to handle. If hiring someone to spread the fertiliser,
what are the associated extra costs? Does that affect
the fertiliser choice?
Timing and Placement: Fertilisers should be applied
so the nutrients are available during the plants main
growth period. But do you or the contractors have
the time? Plan for spreading! How much of a
nutrient is safe when placed with the seed? Does
this fertiliser need to be incorporated? How long
before sowing?
Side Effects: Some fertilisers are more acidifying
than others and should be used sparingly on low
pH soils. Some fertilisers may contain heavy metals
or salts; how much is safe? Is the fertiliser highly
leachable? What precautions should be taken? What
is the risk of erosion, and of fertiliser and soil
contaminating waterways? Use buffer zones around
waterways. Are there any animal health risks (for
example, nitrate poisoning with excessive nitrogen
application)?
The examples used in this Agnote are only a subset
of the possible fertilisers that could be used in the
scenarios given, and do not indicate a preferance by NSW
Department of Primary Industries. The prices used are only
examples, and farmers should use current fertiliser price
and spreading costs when calculating their fertilising costs.

Cost per ha
= DAP @ $580/t x 110 1000
= $63.80 /ha

State of New South Wales, Department of Primary Industries (2004)

The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding
Edited by Michel Dignand
at the time of writing (November 2004). However, because of advances in knowledge,
Information
Delivery Program
users are reminded of the the need to ensure that information upon which they rely
is up to date, and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of Wagga Wagga December 2004
Agdex 540
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, or the user's independent adviser.

5263

TOTAL cost per ha = $63.80 /ha